Tails was sitting on a workbench in a dark gray lab, mouth a line and eyes narrowed. He drilled a nail into the sole of his prosthetic, teeth gritting in frustration because he wasn't even a third of the way done with repairs—it could take weeks to fix it!
The door slid open and Tails didn't bother looking up until the footsteps stopped behind him.
"I don't need any help, Metal—"
"I have a suggestion."
Tails stopped, and twisted around to see Eggman frowning. "Instead of a prosthetic, you could use my roboticizer."
Tails lowered the drill to the table, face wrinkling in confusion. "Roboticizer? How would that help?"
Eggman rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "My roboticizer doesn't just transform organic material into metal, it improves its subject's motor skills, speed, and the like." He rolled his hand dismissively. "It even corrects any impairments the subject has since they would be detrimental to their efficiency."
Tails' eyes widened. "You're saying it can make me a new foot?" His eyes narrowed. "And you didn't tell me this before I spent months building this prosthetic? Why?" he asked harshly, grip tightening on the drill as fresh betrayal swamped his chest.
Yet the doctor raised an unimpressed brow. "And give you an advantage after you ran back to Sonic?" Shock flashed on Tails' face. "You didn't really think I was unaware of your plan to use my lab, and leave once you'd made a prosthetic, right?" He sounded mildly insulted at the possibility.
Tails' ears drooped in shame, and he looked at the ground. "I'm sorry."
And he truly was because the doctor had put a roof over his head, gave him all the tools he needed and even helped him build his prosthetic, but he'd been planning to betray him. What type of hero did that?
"Eh," Eggman shrugged, "It was a good plan, might have even worked if Sonic didn't trash my base." Tails winced at the reminder. "Regardless, what do you say?"
The fox raised his face to eye him warily. "You don't…hate me?"
The doctor frowned. "I hate that hedgehog and anybody who helps him, but that description doesn't quite fit you anymore, does it?"
Tails' jaw tightened and he glared at the workbench, hand curling into a fist. "What do you want for it?" He tried to sound brave, though his voice was shaking.
"Wow, they aren't kidding when they say foxes are clever little things." Tails blinked. Was Eggman joking with him? "Well, it's really a small thing. I just want you to consider an internship with me."
Tails cocked his head, unfamiliar with the word at the tender age of five. "Internship?"
"Ah, you know," Eggman said nonchalantly. "You work under me for a month by helping out in the lab, going on supply runs, etcetera." He shrugged. "After that, you can leave with your new foot."
Suspicion sharpened Tails' gaze. "Is etcetera help you fight Sonic?"
Eggman regarded him, curiosity crossing his face. "No…not unless you want to?"
A raging hurt swelled in Tails' heart, but he avoided the question as he said, "Fine." He looked aside. "Roboticize my foot, and…" He swallowed, hands itching to pull out an old picture for comfort, but he clenched them to kill the urge. "I'll become your lab assistant."
Eggman grinned, a strange glint on his dark lenses while he offered his hand. Tails looked at it, and suddenly recalled another offered hand.
"What's your name, kid?"
Tails, out of breath after having fought to keep up with the super fast hedgehog, sat with his legs splayed out over the grass. "Uh, everyone calls me Tails."
Sonic glanced past him to his two tails, and the kit instinctively braced himself for a taunt. However, the older boy grinned. "That's a cool name," he said sincerely.
Tails' eyes widened while Sonic offered him his hand. "So, Tails, you up for an adventure?"
Awe glittered in Tails' blue eyes and slowly, tentatively, like he thought it might disappear, he reached for Sonic's hand.
Tails took Eggman's hand. "I'm ready," his expression darkened, "Doctor."
Sonic stared down at Tails, face stricken. The fox glared back, though tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"That look…" Tails gave a low, scathing chuckle despite his voice being thick and wet from tears. "I remember that same look on Sonic's face the first time I fought him. He looked so crushed, so betrayed." He glowered. "Like he didn't betray me first."
Sonic shook his head, stepping back, and Tails blinked away his tears while growling, "It felt so good punching that look off his face after everything he—"
The lights flickered. The fox and hedgehog looked up as the lights shut off. They only just noticed the loud humming around them when the laser shot a blue ray at the center of the floor.
Tails gasped, recalling his plan, and started struggling to pull himself out from under the table. Yet he froze when a boom rocketed through the air, a strong wind tugging his fur. No, he was out of time!
A windstorm swirled in the lab, sweeping up blueprints and tools while a red and violet vortex stretched out across the floor. Tails cried out as the table was ripped off of him, but quickly reached back and brought out his Miles Egglectrical.
It flew out of his hands, gusts carrying it over the vortex.
"No!" he shouted when his device crashed into the laser and clattered on top of it.
Desperately Tails launched himself up, soaring towards his invention. He was only two feet away when a powerful force yanked him down. He turned to see the spiraling vortex beneath him, and getting closer.
"Tails!"
The kit's namesakes whirled fast as they could, the boy straining to rise. However, he was dragged down a meter, then another—no, no, no!
A hand caught Tails' wrist. His head snapped over to Sonic who was holding onto a rope thrashing over the portal and secured to the Tornado's cockpit.
"Can't you…control this thing?" Sonic asked in a strained voice, his arm shaking while he struggled to keep a grip on him and the rope.
Tails shook his head. "Not without my Miles Egglectrical!" He glanced up at the device, then at the plane.
The Tornado was sliding, slowly now, but in a minute the portal would have the strength to drag the aircraft in.
Tails' face fell with dawning realization. His mouth drew to a grim line, and he looked to the hedgehog who was staring at the plane determinedly, teeth gritted in defiance of their odds.
Tails steeled himself, and said, "You can fix it!" The hedgehog's head whipped to him. "Just get my Miles Egglectrical and click the blue button on the screen twice!"
Sonic's eyes widened. "But…what about you?"
Tails glanced down at the portal a mere six feet below, then regarded Sonic. His eyes slanted down, tone resigned. "I did this to myself. Just…just take care of my alternate self!"
Sonic gaped. Yet in a flash, he scowled. "No," his grip tightened almost painfully, "I'm not letting you go this time!"
He smiled, and his eyes became so tender it stole Tails' breath away. He was going to ask what the teen was smiling about when Sonic pulled Tails back and pitched him up.
Tails yelled, limbs flailing while he flipped through the air. However, his back crashed on something hard and he blinked twice at the ceiling before realizing he'd landed on the laser. Quickly he rolled to his feet and found his Miles Egglectrical by his metal foot.
He snatched it up, hand hovering over the blue button on the screen. Yet the kit paused, and glanced over the laser's side.
Sonic was holding onto the rope, legs submerged in the vortex. The Tornado groaned while it was dragged closer to the portal's ring, and Tails suddenly realized what the hedgehog had done.
"You saved me…" Tails' forehead scrunched together. Why? He'd told Sonic how to control the portal, and the teen could have easily thrown himself up to get his Miles Egglectrical, so why save him?
Sonic cried out, and Tails saw him sink to his neck in the portal, just one hand managing to stay on the rope. It was maybe eight seconds before he took a trip to space, and that should make Tails happy, but…
The kit watched Sonic, expression unreadable as his finger hovered over his device. Sonic's face screwed up, his hand sliding down the rope and chin dipping into the vortex. It felt good watching Sonic suffer, it always felt good hurting Sonic these days…but this Sonic had saved him. He could have just abandoned Tails, yet hadn't. This Sonic…he was…
…different.
The hedgehog's hand slipped off the rope. Sonic gasped as his head sunk into the cold, silent world of space, body tensing—
He was yanked out of the portal and into the air. Sonic yelped, hands flying out wildly. Yet he couldn't catch himself as he descended and the floor ran up to meet him.
He landed face first beside the portal's ring, legs flopping down a second later. The teen groaned, quickly pushing himself up and rubbing his bruised head.
"I'm sorry."
Sonic turned and found Tails hovering over him, though his gaze was on the floor.
"You aren't the same as my Sonic," the kit said quietly, hands wringing on his device. "I shouldn't have taken out my anger on you." He raised sad, guilty eyes.
"Woah, woah." Sonic quickly got up and waved him down. "It's alright." He grinned, and pointed his thumb at himself. "I'm fine! I mean, it's going to take a lot more than a little space trip to knock me down!" he boasted.
Tails looked surprised, but smiled slightly. However, he stared past Sonic to the now stable portal, its red and violet light glowing on his face in equal dichromatic parts.
His grin fell. "Well, as you can see, I already brought Eggman's ring here with my levitation gloves and connected it to the portal," he said in a subdued tone. "Which means we can go to my reality and you can get your friend back."
Sonic's expression grew concerned. "Do you want to go back? Because if you don't, you're welcome to stay—"
Tails shook his head. "No, Sonic." He sighed. "Even if I wanted to stay here, my body is running on a different frequency than yours, one that resonates with my reality. Staying here…" He grimaced at the portal. "Would eventually cause my atoms to scatter, and break me down to nothing."
Sonic went to speak, but Tails raised his hand. "Also," his eyes narrowed, "I'm still angry at my Sonic." A near feral growl rose from his chest. "I still want him gone."
The hedgehog observed him a moment, then a scowl twisted his mouth. "Well, I get that at least," he huffed, and Tails looked to him in shock. "If I see my alternate self, I'm going to have words with that guy." His tone implied it wouldn't only be words he'd be tossing at his other self, and Tails couldn't stop a startled laugh from leaving him.
Sonic looked stunned as Tails said, "Yeah, that would be nice to see." He shook his head, amusement fading. "But we should go…your Tails probably misses you."
Sonic's face softened. "Okay, if you're ready." Suddenly he stiffened. "Oh," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "I kind of lost your shoe when the portal went all haywire."
Tails glanced at his feet, having not even noticed the missing shoe since his prosthetic couldn't perceive texture well, and soon he shrugged. "I got other pairs back home."
He put away his Miles Egglectrical and offered Sonic his hands.
Sonic blinked, but soon beamed and reached up. "Let's go then!"
His hands clasped Tails', and together they lifted in the air before gliding down into the portal.
Tails saw darkness, and though he didn't feel his eyes open, a second later light chased the shadows away. He stared through red-colored lenses at a smooth wooden ceiling. He blinked, though he couldn't feel it, confused because it looked like the inside of a giant tree hollow.
Tails tried turning to get a better look—
He couldn't move. Tails' breath stuttered, but he didn't feel air in his lungs—couldn't feel anything. What was happening?
Abruptly he remembered a bright light, metal crawling up his skin and sealing over his mouth.
Panic shot through his heart, but when a scream ripped from his throat, nothing except a muffled whimper escaped him. No, no, no, please, he can't be a robot—he can't work for Eggman!
His eyes darted around desperately, yet all he could see was the red tinted-ceiling. Help, help, please, someone help!
Tails tried prying open his mouth, and found he couldn't feel his tongue or teeth—did he even still have them?
His panic grew, and he saw his chest heaving rapidly. However, it was like watching a red-saturated film, something was happening in front of him, but he didn't feel any of it. No, please! Sonic! Someone! Help!
Movement came from his side and Tails locked on a reddish shadow in the corner of his vision as it came into view.
Sonic stared down at him, eyes strained with worry. "Tails? It's okay, I know it's scary, but you're okay."
Tails attempted to yell it wasn't okay, he was a robot! However, all that came out was a muffled whine.
Sonic's expression became alarmed. "Hey! Look at me, Tails!" He reached down, and the fox jolted as sensation brushed over his leg.
He was so stunned by the fact he could actually feel something, it took him a second to notice Sonic's hand gently patting his tails.
"That's it, just take it easy, you can feel that, right?" Sonic asked, grinning hopefully, and the panic gripping his heart ebbed a little.
"You're going to be okay, the cleanser's almost done. All the metal will be off you in ten and you should be able to move in twelve."
Tails' eyes widened. The metal…would come off? He wasn't a robot?
Sonic somehow picked up on his confusion—were his eyes still visible?—and said, "I saved you at the last second." He smirked, though it seemed forced. "You know me, gotta have that dramatic timing."
He chuckled, yet soon his face fell. "But yeah," he rubbed the back of his head, "You can reverse the roboticization process as long as the brain stays organic, and because the brain's so complex, it's always the last thing Eggman roboticizes."
Hope expanded over Tails' chest. So he was saved? He wasn't going to be a robot?
As if the universe heard him, the red washed away from his vision like water draining down a sink. Sonic's blue fur gleamed in the sunshine against his back and highlighted his worried frown.
"Trust me, you'll be okay."
And Tails finally relaxed, his chest falling and rising more evenly. Sonic was here, he wouldn't let anything happen to him.
So he mentally ordered himself to calm down, focusing on Sonic's hand running through his tails. He could feel it, he could feel it, and soon he'd be able to feel everything again.
The next twelve minutes passed quickly, Sonic talking all the while probably to distract him until finally the hedgehog beamed. "Alright, you should be able to move now. Try sitting up."
The hand left his tails, but moved under his back. Tails jolted at actually being able to feel it there, and hope soaring, the kit yanked himself up.
Sonic jumped when he crashed into his chest, but before Tails could apologize, the teen was patting his back. "Okay, buddy! Guess you didn't need my help after—woah!"
Tails threw his arms around Sonic's neck, burrowing his face in his chest and gripping him tightly. "Sonic! You're really here!" He nearly sobbed in relief. "How did you find a way to this reality? Did my counterpart help you? I didn't think he would because he's—"
"Uh, kid."
Tails stopped, looking up to see discomfort filtering through the teen's face. "I think you have me mixed up with another hedgehog."
Tails stared. Then his eyes darted down. A handless wrist rested on Sonic's knee, which meant this wasn't his Sonic.
He quickly let go of him. "I'm sorry! I thought you—"
Sonic shook his head, smiling a little. "It's alright." His smile waned, gaze flicking aside. "I guess this means you're friends with your Sonic."
Tails beamed. "Of course, Sonic is my best friend!"
Something painful crossed Sonic's face so fast Tails would have missed it if he didn't know the hedgehog so well.
Tails' expression turned sympathetic. "But you're not friends with my counterpart…he's with Eggman." Sonic frowned and turned away. "Though I don't understand why, what happened? You two seemed happy in that picture."
Sonic started, head whipping around. "What picture?"
Tails flinched, a bit taken aback at his intensity, but replied, "The ripped one." Sonic's eyes widened. "It looked like you had your arm over my counterpart's shoulders, at West Side Island I think, but the half with you is missing."
Sonic's mouth parted. "He has the other half…then he was there…"
Tails cocked his head, baffled as the hedgehog muttered something under his breath. "Um, Sonic?"
The hedgehog jumped like he'd forgotten he was there. "Oh, sorry, just remembering something."
Tails frowned. "You two were friends once, weren't you?"
Sonic slowly curled into himself until he was halfway to a spindash, eyes falling to the wood floor. "Yeah," he said quietly, and Tails' heart ached at the brokenness seeping through his voice.
He and his counterpart had split, and the splitting had hurt, but Tails needed to know more. He needed to know because what if something like that happened to him and his Sonic? Tails and his counterpart were so similar, it wasn't impossible to imagine he might do the same as his counterpart given similar circumstances. So he needed to know what exactly those circumstances were just in case.
Tails' tone was gentle, yet he pressed, "Then what happened? Did you get into a fight?"
He was pretty sure it was worse than that, and Sonic confirmed it as his face darkened with regret, and he sighed heavily. "We did, as in we got into a fight with Eggman." He swallowed. "Tails got hurt, really hurt." His gaze shifted to the green treetops fanned against the pale blue sky.
"I pushed him away because I couldn't…if he ever got hurt like that again…" His mouth closed and opened twice before shutting like he couldn't go on.
Yet Tails reached and laid a hand on the teen's shoulder, though Sonic didn't face him. "You wanted to protect him." He smiled kindly. "It's okay, my Sonic gets pretty worked up when I get hurt too."
"Yeah?" Sonic glanced off to the hollow's circular entrance where sunlight fell in, jaw tightening. "Well, my Tails didn't see it that way. Later, I found out he never went back to the hospital, and it looked like Eggman had captured him."
He shook his head. "But I couldn't find him at any of his bases… Until one day Knuckles came to me and told me Tails had tricked him, and helped Eggman take over Angel Island. I didn't believe him." He closed his eyes, voice quieting. "Or I guess, I didn't want to believe him…"
.
.
Sonic stared up at Tails from the bottom of the ancient temple steps. The torches lining the stairs flickered on his face while it fell with disbelief, his eyes growing big.
Tails glared at him, his namesakes spinning and the Master Emerald glowing behind him like a green halo against the night sky. His hands were clenched, he was posed for a fight, and though Eggman was cackling somewhere above in his eggmobile and Knuckles was shouting at him from behind, they sounded distant as his entire attention rested on the fox.
"Tails?" Sonic whispered, taking one step up. "You're okay? I thought Eggman captured you, and I've been so worried—"
"Really, hedgehog?"
Sonic's mouth snapped shut at Tails' cold tone, his blue eyes ice. "Still lying?" He glowered. "Too bad I don't believe your lies anymore."
Sonic's brow rose. "What are you talking about? I never—"
"I'll never leave you." Sonic froze while Tails hissed, "You said that before you left."
Sonic's eyes strained with regret. "Look, pal, I didn't mean—"
Tails soared at him and his fist crashed into Sonic's jaw. The hedgehog dropped to his knees, eyes wide and reaching to touch the bruise blooming over his cheek. Did Tails just…he couldn't have…
"We are not friends!" Tails seethed, getting into his face. "You made that clear in your letter."
Sonic only got to realize Tails had two feet again before his left foot swung into his gut like a sledgehammer.
The hedgehog was sent flying, and though he knew he should catch himself, he couldn't as his eyes only saw Tails baring his teeth at him, gaze full of hate. This…this couldn't be real. It was a bad dream, it had to be.
Sonic smashed into a pillar and it cracked apart, half of it toppling over while Sonic hit the stone ground. He rolled roughly until hands caught his shoulders. He looked up and saw Knuckles crouched over him, staring ahead with a frown.
"That's not your friend anymore, Sonic. He's—"
Sonic got to his feet in a flash, glaring fire at Knuckles. "Shut up!" he snapped venomously, and the echidna looked to him in shock. "Tails is my friend! He's our friend!"
He looked to the fox, eyes seeking reaffirmation. "Right?"
Tails stared, muzzle pulling back in a snarl. "Are you deaf, rodent?" He flew up to Eggman and the doctor grinned as the kit landed on his eggmobile. "I'm not your friend, I'm Dr. Robotnik's friend now." He smirked.
Sonic recoiled, mouth dropping. "You…you can't be serious." He shook his head, laughing weakly. "Come on, this isn't funny. You can't—"
A silver claw shot down from the eggmobile and grabbed the Master Emerald. Knuckles growled and stomped forward, but Sonic caught his arm. "No, you don't have to worry. Tails wouldn't—"
Knuckles ripped his arm back and glared. "Are you that dense, Sonic? Tails just said he's working with Eggman, he's our enemy."
Sonic shook his head, heart thudding in his chest so loud he couldn't hear his own thoughts. "You're wrong," he said breathlessly, suddenly finding it hard to inhale while sweat formed on his forehead. "Eggman is controlling him," he blurted. "Tails wouldn't—"
The ground trembled. Sonic and Knuckles spun around to see the eggmobile rising in the night sky, the Master Emerald hanging from the claw chained to its underside.
"Thanks for your help, my lab assistant!" Eggman sneered at Sonic as his hand landed on Tails' head and the kit leaned into the touch, a pleased smile on his face.
"No," Sonic shook his head, "This isn't…no…no. Tails!"
Suddenly he shot up the stairs in a blur and jetted into the air. He landed on the eggmobile and Tails reeled back in shock, but Sonic caught his arms and pulled him in close. "Tell me what Eggman's done to you. I promise I'll fix it—"
Tails glowered, and tried yanking his arms free, but Sonic refused to let go. "Dr. Robotnik didn't do anything, you did." He swiftly grabbed Sonic back, grip bruisingly tight. "And since you seemed to have forgotten," his eyes narrowed, "How about I jog your memory?"
He flew up, dragging Sonic up high while Eggman cackled beneath them. "Wait, what are you—"
Tails soared left, leaving the temple far behind. Then he stopped, and Sonic glanced down. His eyes widened at the dark ocean waves crashing into each other.
The hedgehog looked up. "Tails…"
The kit stared coldly at him. "Now you can learn…"
He smirked cruelly, but his blue eyes started shimmering and hurt glinted within them.
"How it feels to watch all your hope fly away."
"Tails—"
He let go.
Sonic fell, the wind roaring past his ears and rushing over his quills. Tails watched, expression unchanging even as Sonic reached out.
The hedgehog kept waiting for him to catch him, to come back and say it was a prank.
He waited all the way until his back hit the water. Sonic sunk under the waves, but splashing hard, just managed to get his head over the black tides.
"T-Tails!" he sputtered, and salty water entered his mouth. He coughed, choking.
The fox watched him, unmoving, and Sonic raised his hand, silently begging.
Tails turned and flew away. Sonic didn't have the air to call again before his head sunk under the water.
His movements ceased while he descended into the dark ocean, eyes falling half-lidded. Tails had left him. He left him to die… He really did hate him… What…what had Sonic done?
A figure emerged through the shadows, but darkness was sweeping across his vision. So he only glimpsed a spiked glove drawing close before the world went black.
.
.
"Knuckles saved me at the cost of letting Eggman leave with the Emerald." Sonic opened his eyes and gazed at the floor. "But Tails, he left me, though I guess I left him first—"
Arms wound around the hedgehog, and he jolted, looking down to see Tails hugging him. The kit's blue eyes shined with sympathy, and Sonic gaped. It had been a long time since he'd seen that foxy face stare at him with anything but hatred and cruelty, and something soothed inside him at the sight. He could have kept this, if only he hadn't pushed Tails away.
"I'm sorry, Tails," Sonic whispered, though he knew this was the wrong fox to say it to.
However, Tails shook his head. "He doesn't hate you." Sonic's eyes widened. "I know he doesn't, he's just…sad."
The kit gazed earnestly at him, and Sonic's mouth slanted down. Though before he could protest, Tails pulled back and scowled. "Trust me, I've learned enough about him to know how he feels. Besides," his face fell, "Why else would he keep that picture?"
Sonic's brow furrowed, yet he soon sighed. "I don't know, but if Tails didn't hate me—" He stopped, and gave a scathing laugh. "Oh, who am I kidding, of course he hates me."
Tails looked like he would argue when a distant boom echoed from outside. He let Sonic go and they lurched to their feet, the hedgehog rushing to the opening.
"No way Eggman found this base!" Sonic hissed because the chaos emerald should have kept up the cloaking shield—and the technology was trustworthy considering the Resistance had stole it from one of Eggman's bases.
He stared out past the forest, but saw no fire or damage. Then what had—
Tails brushed past him, joy sparking in his eyes. "Sonic!"
The hedgehog twitched at his name, but stilled as he spotted a blue figure on a hilltop past the trees. "My alternate self?"
He tensed, seeing a flying fox beside his counterpart. The kit looked back at hearing Tails' call and Sonic's eyes met his. Icy blue eyes went frigid and Sonic didn't know what the nicer Tails had been thinking because all he saw was hate in that gaze.
Sonic and Tails dropped out of the swirling vortex in the sky. The hedgehog stared curiously at a grassy hill far below sloping into a forest, but he gave a startled yelp as Tails' grip slackened. He looked up to see the fox shaking his head, eyes squeezed shut, and teetering in the air.
Sonic's expression grew concerned. "You okay?"
The kit blinked. "Yeah, yeah," his hold secured around the hedgehog's hands, "Sorry, we traveled so fast I got a little dizzy."
Sonic almost joked about how slow the vortex was compared to his average speed, but the words quickly died on his tongue.
"He said I was too slow."
Sonic's mouth clamped shut. Maybe speed jokes should be avoided for now.
However, something must have shown on his face because Tails rolled his eyes. "You can mention your speed around me." He looked away, scoffing. "I'm long past caring what that hedgehog thinks."
Sonic frowned while Tails glided towards the hill just outside a dense forest. He really wanted to talk to his alternate self before he left.
A few feet above the ground, Tails let him go. Sonic easily landed as the kit pulled out his Miles Egglectrical. He pushed a couple buttons on the screen and a holographic map appeared over it with two black dots blinking on the edge of some continent, which he assumed was them.
"This is my counterpart's location." He pointed at a red dot not too far from the black dots in the direction of the forest.
Sonic cocked his head. "How did you find him?"
Tails shrugged. "I scanned your body's frequency and then searched for a match in the other realities." He grinned slightly. "Just your basic forensic search across the universe."
Sonic snorted because only Tails would think nothing about finding a single reality out of potentially an infinite amount of them. Though his smile dropped as the fox started flying off to the side.
"I'm going to call Dr. Robotnik so he can pick me up." Tails lowered the map and gazed at the ground. "But I have to leave first because he'll probably try to destroy you, even if you are another Sonic."
He went to click a button on his device, but Sonic caught his wrist. The fox started, looking at him while Sonic's face drew down. "Are you sure you want to go back to him? The offer to stay with me and Tails is still on the table, I'm sure you two geniuses could figure out a way to stabilize the frequency thing so you can stay!"
Tails smiled sadly and Sonic already knew his answer before he said, "That's okay. Dr. Robotnik is my friend, I'm fine staying with him."
Sonic frowned, though he let him go. "Then why don't you seem happy to be here?"
Tails' expression dimmed, and his eyes shifted aside. "I'm not upset to be in my reality. I just…" He glanced back at him. "You…"
He sighed, and grabbed his own arm, clutching it tightly. "You remind me of him…before the accident." He stared deep into Sonic's eyes. "The way you look at me, like you think I can do anything." He closed his eyes, raising his face to the clouds. "Just like the day I met you, the first time I flew so fast trying to catch up to you… I felt like I could do anything in that moment because of you—"
Tails stopped. He shook his head while his eyes opened. "It doesn't matter. It was all just a lie anyway."
Sonic's jaw clenched. He glared off to the side. "Yeah, I'm definitely talking to that guy before I leave. Any chance you can point me in his direction after I get Tails?"
The kit shrugged. "He's always on the move so it's hard to track him. Normally we have to draw him out by attacking a Freedom City."
Sonic's expression twisted with discomfort at the causal mentioning of Tails attacking innocent people.
He plastered on a smile quickly, but Tails glimpsed his expression and his mouth drew to a line.
"I know I'm not a good person," Tails sighed. "I know Sonic's technically the good guy and I'm a bad guy. It's not like I enjoy hurting people, I just don't care what I have to do if it means getting rid of that liar."
Tails' face hardened, and Sonic frowned. He didn't want to leave the kit to serve a villain in the name of revenge. He could tell the fox had a good heart just like his Tails, and unlike Eggman, only did bad things because he was hurting. Yet how was he supposed to convince the fox to come with him?
Sonic crossed his arms, expression thoughtful. He couldn't stay here forever, his Tails was probably missing him. He had to get him, but—
"Thanks for saving me."
Sonic blinked while Tails smiled. "I mean when I was drowning. I know you can't swim either, so you were risking a lot coming down for me." Guilt weighed down his tone. "You saved me though I'd done nothing to deserve it, so I know you'll take care of my counterpart." He handed him his Miles Egglectrical. "Go get your friend."
He turned and started to fly away, clicking a button on his black wristband, which Sonic suddenly realized looked bulkier and sleeker than Tails'—was it some sort of communicator?
"Sonic!"
The fox and hedgehog whirled around to see a streak of yellow hurtling out of the forest.
Sonic's eyes lit up as he lowered the Miles Egglectrical just in time to catch his friend. "Tails!" His arms wrapped tight around the fox while he buried his face in Sonic's neck.
"I can't believe you came here!" Tails pulled away and beamed.
Sonic grinned back, though his gaze quickly raked over the younger boy. He saw no obvious harm except some ruffled fur and a shiny film over his eyes like he'd cried recently.
The teen's mouth slanted down. "Are you okay?"
Tails nodded, and Sonic's heart eased. "I just can't believe you're here." His enthusiasm dimmed as he cocked his head curiously. "How did you get to this reality?"
Sonic smirked and aimed his thumb over his shoulder. "Your counterpart built a portal!" He looked back. "Right, pal—"
The fox was gone. Sonic's eyes widened and he let go of Tails while turning to scan the sky. He left? Without even a goodbye—
Sonic froze, seeing the kit up on a tree, and across from him stood…himself?
He blinked twice, scrubbed his eyes, but continued to see himself up on the thick tree limb.
"That's the Sonic from this reality," Tails confirmed, staring at the other hedgehog with a worried slant to his muzzle. "He saved me from Eggman's ship."
Sonic's shock faded into a scowl. "Well, that's great and all, but I've got something to tell him."
Tails' head snapped to the teen, hearing the anger lacing his causal tone. "What—"
Sonic dashed towards the tree, ran up the bark and jumped down onto the branch behind his counterpart. Neither the fox nor hedgehog seemed to notice his arrival as Tails, well, Alternate Tails, glared at Alternate Sonic—no, too long, how about Alt-Sonic?
"I don't want to talk to you." The kit glowered, hate burning in his eyes, and he turned to leave.
Yet the other hedgehog sped in front of him. "Wait," he held up a hand pleadingly, "We really have to talk about what Eggman—"
"Dr. Robotnik," Alt-Tails snapped, his hands balling up. "Is going to be here any minute, so unless you want to fight, I suggest you let me leave."
Alt-Sonic scowled. "Would you just listen to me for once? Dr. Robotnik attacked your counterpart, he tried to roboti—"
"Hey, buddy," Sonic interrupted, not having any more patience to spare, and the two whirled to him in shock. However, Sonic's eyes narrowed on the hedgehog. "There's just one thing I wanted to say to you."
Alt-Sonic cocked an eye. "Uh, I'm in the middle of—"
Sonic sped to the hedgehog and punched him in the face. Alt-Tails gaped, and he heard a gasp behind him from Tails while Alt-Sonic stumbled back, eyes wide as he clutched his jaw.
"W-what was that for!?" Alt-Sonic cried, quills rising while he glared.
Sonic glowered back, and the other hedgehog's outrage turned into shock as he hissed, "For abandoning your little brother."
His counterpart flinched, quills settling down while Alt-Tails' breath hitched. Sonic went to say more, but paused when the other teen scowled.
"Let me guess?" Alt-Sonic folded his arms. "Tails told you why he hates me, so you've just heard his side of things and won't even give me a chance to explain myself—"
"He wasn't lying," Sonic snapped, green eyes hard as jade. "I could tell."
Alt-Sonic bared his teeth, sounding frustrated. "I didn't say he lied, I'm saying you don't have all the facts." He glanced at Tails, and his face softened. "And clearly you didn't go what I went through."
Sonic's expression didn't ease. "And I'm not going to tell you I wouldn't have done something similar in your situation, but saying he was too slow to keep up?" Alt-Tails flinched, looking away, and Sonic pointed accusingly at the hedgehog. "That was too far."
Alt-Sonic blinked, confusion twisting his face. "What are you talking about? I never said—"
An engine roared, and everyone looked up as a large shadow stretched over them. The Eggcarrier hovered high in the sky, blocking out the sun, and Sonic tensed, angling himself in front of Tails.
"Dr. Robotnik!" Alt-Tails cried excitedly, and Sonic noticed the eggmobile flying down from under the carrier, a familiar man inside.
"Ah, there you are, my assistant." Eggman grinned, though it looked more like a smirk. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
Sonic twitched, something about Eggman's tone ringing as wrong to him, and he saw his counterpart grimace uncomfortably.
Sonic's expression grew weary because if even his counterpart noticed something off, maybe he was right to be worried about leaving the other Tails with the man.
Tails' counterpart flew fast to embrace Eggman, but jerked to a stop as Tails jetted in his path. "No, he's going to roboticize you!"
Sonic's eyes widened. What?
However, Alt-Tails just blinked before he straightened up and rolled his eyes. "Did that hedgehog tell you that?" He scoffed. "He's always making up some excuse—"
"No." Tails caught the fox's wrist and Alt-Tails' annoyance fell in place of surprise. "He tried to roboticize me," his blue eyes implored his twin's, "And he said he was using me as a test run for you!"
"That's not true!" Eggman interrupted, and both foxes looked to him. "He's just confused. You see, he took a hit for Sonic and got caught in the Eggcavator's ray," his voice dropped to a knowing whisper, "And you know the side effects of that are confusion and hallucinations." He looked pointedly at Tails.
Yet the kit scowled, hands balling up. "I didn't hallucinate Sonic having to save me after you nearly roboticized me!" He waved towards the hedgehogs on the branch. "Why else would I be in the middle of a forest with him instead of with you?"
However, Eggman looked unimpressed. "Wouldn't be the first time the rodent carried off my assistant in some backwards attempt to 'save' him. Eh, Tails?"
Tails glanced at his counterpart, and the other fox gave a small nod, looking down thoughtfully. "That must have been what happened."
"Yeah, right!" Alt-Sonic raised a fist and everyone watched while he glared up at Eggman. "I always knew you were up to no good with Tails." He reached back and pulled out the Miles Electric, holding it up. "And now I've got proof!"
Eggman's face flashed with fear before he scoffed. "That's not proof—"
Alt-Sonic clicked the screen and a holographic video streamed above it.
"Or, I could keep you here and roboticize you."
"Roboticize?" Tails' voice thrummed with fear and Sonic tensed. "Why would you do that?"
"Because why have one genius assistant when I could have two? And even if the process kills you, I'll at least learn what I need to tweak before using it on my actual assistant."
Alt-Sonic clicked the button and the hologram froze while Alt-Tails stared, wide-eyed.
Eggman was paper white, but schooled his expression as the kit slowly turned to him. "That…that…" He lowered his face, bangs falling over his eyes. "That was fake, right?"
Eggman was going to respond, but Tails grabbed his counterpart's shoulders and leaned in his face. "No, it was real. Just—"
"Of course, it's fake," Eggman laughed, though it was strained. "Come on, Tails." He gestured at Sonic and sneered. "You know he'd do anything to get you to leave with him."
Alt-Tails' expression became uncertain while he glanced between Tails and the doctor. "I—"
"Why would I lie to you about this?" Tails asked, face drawn with worry. "I wouldn't benefit in any way from lying, and besides." He let him go, eyes sad. "You know I'm telling the truth."
Alt-Tails stared at the fox, his face going blank. For a moment he didn't say anything. Then he turned to Eggman. His eyes narrowed.
"Why?" he whispered, and Eggman reeled back.
"Why? Why what—"
"Why would you want to roboticize me?" Alt-Tails shook his head in disbelief, trembling hands curling up and expression wracking with grief. "Why?"he asked louder. "What did I do wrong?"
Eggman's mouth opened, closed, and stopped. Suddenly his expression cooled, a cruel smirk curving his mouth. "Fine, you want to know why?" Alt-Tails recoiled, eyes growing big while the doctor shouted, "Because you were going to turn against me!"
Alt-Tails gaped. "What are you talking about?" His teeth clenched, though his eyes were bright with pain. "I…I've done everything you've asked of me! I spend days working nonstop to repair your robots and invented hundreds of weapon to make the war easier! How could you think I'd ever betray you!?"
His voiceechoed across the sky, his chest heaving, but Eggman scoffed. "Because," he crossed his arms, "You don't actually want to destroy Sonic." Alt-Tails reeled back while Alt-Sonic's eyes widened. "Maybe you really haven't noticed, but every time you have that hedgehog in your clutches, he just happens to get away."
Alt-Tails balked. "I don't—"
"Or whenever you're in position to take his head, Sonic is just a little too fast and gets away." He glowered. "Or you miss."
"I…" Alt-Tails looked down. "I didn't…" He raised his head, something fragile in his expression. "Those were accidents, mistakes." His face hardened, though his voice quivered. "I hate Sonic."
"But do you want him dead?"
Alt-Tails froze, mouth falling open, yet nothing came out.
Disappointment colored Eggman's face and he sighed. "As I thought, but don't worry," his hand went to the black band on his wrist, "I always have a backup plan." He clicked the band.
The hedgehogs tensed, and Sonic called, "Tails, get back!"
The fox turned to glide away, but stopped to make sure his twin would follow.
Alt-Tails screamed, face warping with agony while he clutched his left leg.
Tails' eyes widened, Eggman cackled, and Sonic was shouting, but Tails could only stare in horror as the metal on his counterpart's foot seemed to melt and crawl up his leg.
The fox let out another piercing scream while his body slowly started to be roboticized.
Thanks so much for all the love you all showed last chapter! It really brightened my day to read your comments!
To the person who asked, I don't have an update schedule since this story is already complete on Ao3. However, there are only 2 chapters left after this one so you won't have to worry about cliffhangers for too much longer 😃
To MUNDI-NEN: ¡Gracias por comentar! Y si, pobrecito zorro!
Until next time, take care
